Cab-block-signaling system.



Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

V W N Q w T H MILLINGTOIw CAB BLOCK SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 3| I910 THEODOREIH MILLINGT'ON', OF MINNEAPOLIS, -MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES A.

CAMERON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Continuation of application Serial No. 460,805, filed November 3, 1908. This application filed October 31,

1910. Serial No.7590,082.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electric signaling systems, and a specific embodiment thereof is shown in the accompanying drawing,

which is a diagrammatic view showing, in

the upper part, the track system andin the lower part the arrangement, of. the parts carried by the cab of the engine, which is to receive the signal.

- R ferring to the drawing, A A A B and A B are the rails of blocks which are marked on the drawing Block 1-, Block 2 and Block 3, and will be so referred to. The rails of the respective blocks are insulated from each other in the usual way and the two rails of each block are connected tothe terminals of batteries, one for each block. The rails of each block are connected respectively to the terminals of relays C C in the corresponding blocks, each of the said. relays being adapted, when its armature is attracted, to close local circuits c 0 in which are magnets D D and suitable means for supplying electric current, the same being shown in the form of batteries. When there is no train upon any given block, the current from the battery attached to the rails thereof flows through the corresponding relay closing the circuit 0 or c as the case may be and thereby energizing the magnet D or D When a train is in any given block, it short-circuits the battery be tween the rails thereof as shown in block 2,

thereby depriving the corresponding relay of current and thus breaking the clrcult a or 0 as the case may be anddenergizmg the magnet, D or D In the drawing,

block 1 is shown clear and block 2 with a train in place and the resulting positions of the relays and magnets with their armatures be supplied for each block. To one side of the track, and extending substantially the length of each block is a wave-wire, the same being indicated in the drawing by the wires F F and on the opposite side of the track and near'the end of the'block in the direction in which the train is moving are shorter wave-wires, which are indicated -in the drawing by the wires G and G The armatures of the magnet D D heretofore described, are provided with contacts where by when the magnets are energized, the wave-wires in the next block in the direction from which'the trains move are connected with the generators so that said wave-wires are supplied with the necessary oscillations,

or influences to operate the cab-signaling device presently to be described. The electrical influences'are made of suchstrength that each wave-wire will operate only within a comparatively, small zone. The wave wire F for instance, affecting a zone which does not overlap the zone actuated by the wave-wire G It is found as a matter of practice that the various wave-wires can be placed in such positions that this can readily be accomplished. Y v

The result of the foregoing construction is obviously that when the train is in block 2,

the wave-wire F and the wave-wire G will be denergized, while the corresponding wires F and Gr will be supplied with energy. Thus the absence of energy in any given block on the wave-wire thereof will indicate a trainin the next preceding block,

or a condition of danger, while the presence of such electrical influences-or energy will train depending solely upon the presence or absence of electrical energy in the wavewires would, after running under control through block 1, get a signal indicating safety when it entered block 2, and were the train in block 2 wrecked, the engineer following, receiving a safety signal would suppose that the train had passed out of the block and would proceed at full speed, where the condition in fact was one of the greatest danger. The purpose of the present invention is to provide means whereby under such conditions the train will still continue to receive a signal of danger even though entering a block in which the presence of. waves in the wave-wire would normally indicate safety.

. place the detector H directly in series with the magnet H, but in practice a relay will probably be interposed for obvious reasons. A second detector I is provided with a receiving antenna B so arranged as to be i affected only by the energy emanating from the wave-wires G G and it controls the circuit through a magnet I having a pivoted armature a, on the upper end of which is a catch or shoulder 11 to engage with the shoulder 72, on the lever H The operation of the cab portion of thedevice will now be readily apparent. As long as there isoscillation in the wave-wire F the circuit through the c oherer II will be closed, the armature k of the solenoid II will be held in its upward position and.

the lever H will be held thereby in such position'as to hold the indicating apparatus at safety. The indicating apparatus may be of any desired form controlled by the lever H If desired, the lever H may control a whistle or a visual signal or may control the air-brake and throttle in any way well known in the art whereby such results may be automatically accomplished. Themoment the train enters a block where the wave-wire 1s,not energized, that is, a block where there is a train in the preceding block, the detector will break the circuit through the solenoid H permitting the armature thereof to drop and rocking the lever H about its pivot. The right hand end of said lever will rise, the shoulder it being engaged by the catch on the armature i of the magnet I in the manner illustrated in the drawing. The cab-indicator will continue to indicate danger and the engineer will run the train under control. Should the danger signal be set in block 1 (as it would be on atrain entering the block as indicated in Fig. 1), when the train enters block 2 in which there already is another train (as illustrated) the'circuit will again be reestablished through the solenoid H .but the engagement of. the armature a" will hold the indicating mechanism in position where it shows danger. If, however, the preceding train has cleared block 2 before the following train reached the entrance of said block the waves thrown out by the unlock wavewire G would affect the detector I, thereby energizing the magnet I and withdrawing the armature i and its catch from engagement with the lever k whereupon the'circuit passing through the solenoid H would set the device at safety. It'will thus be seen that the operation of my device is to keep at danger position the cab-device when a train enters a block which is succeeded by a block in which a train on engine is located. The device is automatically held at danger and remains so under all conditions, so that the engine must proceed under controluntil a block is reached which'is followed by-an empty block, in which case, and in which case only, the device returns to safety. The

construction of the apparatus to carry out this result may be very largely varied. I consider. itof the greatest importance to provide looking or equivalent means for 'placing and keeping the device at danger,

preventing it from returning to safety upon entering a block already occupied by a train. As far as I am aware prior systems were faulty in that they did not give accurate information to a following train entering a block already occupied. When'the danger device is once set in danger position it may be returned to safety in various ways.

I realize that considerable variation is possible in the details of construction shown without departing from the spirit of my invention, and I do not intend therefore, to

limit myself to the specific form herein shown and described.

I claim I 1. In a cab signaling system, a track divided into blocks, means to transmitthrough space electrical influences indicating the conditions in a block ahead, signaling means on the cab normally within said field of influence indicative of the condition of the block ahead, and responsive to variation of said influences to indicate danger or safety ahead, means for holding the signaling means in danger position when danger is once indicated, regardless of the restoration tions; and means local to a predetermined extent of the block for releasing said holding means when said influences indicate safety in the'block ahead.

2. In a cab signaling system, a signal device, means for producing a safety indicaioo tion thereof, means for setting the signal device in danger indication when the engme enters a block behind an occupied block, means for holding the signal device in danger position, means for automatically releasing said holding means, and separate means associated with the track for controlling said release means.

1 1 5 of said influences to safety indicating condiwhich indicates safety and danger, means for automatically setting the device at dan-' ger when the train enters 'a' block wherein there are no electrical influences produced in the wave wire, means for maintaining the device in the danger position, and a controlling device at the end of the block for said maintaining means held from operation by the presence of a train in the next block, whereby the signal device will remain at danger when the engine enters a block already occupied by another train.

4'. A cab signaling system, including means along the track for transmitting electrical influences through space and a device on the train which indicates a condition of safety when it receives influences emanat ing from said transmitting-means and danger in the absence of such influences, means for maintaining said train device in the danger position, and means for-automatically releasing said maintaining means to danger indication when the train is in any permit said train device to return to its safety indication only when the train enters an unoccupied block which is succeeded by another unoccupied block.

5. A cab signaling system, including 3 means along the track for transmitting electrical influences through space and a device on the train which indicates a condition of safety when it receives influences emanating from said transmitting means and danger in the absenceof such influences, means for maintaining said signal device at danger indication'when so set, additional means in each block for transmitting electrical influences through space, and means on the train affected only by said additional transmitting means and adapted to release said train device from said dangerindication' 6. A cab signaling system, including ,means along the track for transmitting electrical influences through space and a device on the train whichindicates a condition of means and adapted to release'said train device from said danger indication, and a common source for supplying energy to both of said transmitting means. I

7 In a cab signaling system, a signal device, means for setting said signal device at position in a block behind an occupied block,

means for preventing said signal device from indicating safety when the engine enters an occupied block, and means v for automatically causing said signal device to indicate safety when at least one clear block precedes the engine.

8. In a block signaling system, genera-' tors of electrical influence, long and short transmitting antennae connected with said through space and comprising short and long transmitting antennae, and a source of electrical energy for same, means controlled by said track circuits for energizing and deenergizing said antennae, a device on the rolling stock adapted to be influenced by the longer transmitting antenna to indicate certain conditions, means for holding said device to continue such indication, and means adapted to be influenced by the shorter transmitting antenna for releasing said holding means.

10 A block signaling system, comprising I,

a trackdivided into blocks, track circuits,

means controlled by said track circuits for transmitting electrical influences through space Within the fieldof said blocks, a de vice on the rolling stock for indicating the presence or absence of such electrical infiuences, and means controlled by conditions of danger for preventing said device from indicatingthe presence of said electrical influences.

11. In a cab signaling system, a track system including a transmitting antenna, and means for energizing it, a device in the cab for indicating danger when said antenna is deenergized, and means for maintaining said device at the danger indication.

' 12. In a cab, signaling system, a trackj system including a transmitting antenna,- and means for energizing it, a device in the cab for indicating danger when said antenna is deenergized, means for maintaining said device at the danger'indication, and automatic meansfor releasing said holding means. i

13. In a cab signaling system, a track system including a transmitting antenna, and means for energizing it, a device inthe cab for indicating danger when said antenna is deenergized, means for maintaining said device at the danger indication, and means for releasing said holding means.

14. In a cab signaling system, a track system including a transmitting antenna,

and means for energizing it, a device in the cab for indicating danger when said antenna is deenergized, means for mainthe release of said maintaining means.

-15. In a cab signaling system, a track system including an antenna for transmitting electrical influences through space, a device in the cab controlled by such influences for indicating conditions of safety and danger, means in the cab device for maintaining one of such indications irrespective of the continued transmission of influences from said antenna. 7

16. In a cab signaling system, a track system including an antenna for transmitting electrical influences through space a device in the cab controlled by such influences for indicating conditions of safety and danger, means in the cab device for maintaining one of such indications irrespective of a change in the condition of said antenna.

17. In a cab signaling system, a track system including an antenna for transmitting electrical influences through space, a device in the cab, controlled by such influences for indicating conditions of safety and danger, means in the cab device for maintaining one of such indications irrespective of the contmued transmlssion of mfluences from said antenna, and means for releasing said maintaining means.

18. In a cab signaling system, a track system including an antenna for transmitting electrical influences through space, a device in the cab controlled by such influences for indicating conditions of safety and danger, means in the cab device for maintaining one of such indications irrespective of the continued transmission of influences from said antenna, a second transmitting antenna included in said track system and adapted to release said maintaining means.

19. In a cab signaling system,a track system including an antenna for transmitting electrical influences through space, a device in the cab controlled by such influencesfor indicating conditions of safety and danger,

means in the cab device for maintaining one of such indications lrrespective of the contmued transmlsslon of influences from sald antenna, a second transmitting antenna inindicating conditions of safety and danger,

means in'the cab device for maintaining one of such indications irrespective of a change in the condition of said antenna, and means influenced by the relation of the rolling stock to the track system for releasing said maintaining means.

21. In a cab signaling system, means to transmit through space electrical influences indicating the conditions in advance of the movement. of the train, signaling means on a cab normally within said field of influence indicative of the condition of the track ahead and responsive to the variation of said influences to indicate danger or safety ahead, means for holding the signaling means in danger position when danger is once indicated, and means for releasing said holding nileanis when said influences indicate safety a ea 22. In a cab signaling system, means to transmit through space electrical influences indicating the conditions. in advance of the movement of the train, signaling means on a cab normally Within said field of influence indicative of the condition of the track ahead and responsive to the variation of said influences to indicate danger or safety ahead, means for holding the signaling means in danger position when danger is once indicated, regardless of the restoration of said influences to safety indicating condition; and means for releasing said holding means when said influences indicate safety ahead.

23. In a cab signaling system, means to transmit through space electrical influences indicating the conditions in advance of the movement of the train, signaling means on a cab normall within said field of influence indicative of the condition of the track a ead and responsive to the variation of said influences to indicate danger or safety ahead,

means for holding the signaling means in danger position when danger is once'indicated, regardless of the restoration ofv said influences to safety indicating condition; and means local to a predetermined extent of track for releasing said holding means when said influences indicate safety in the direction-of the movement of the train.

24. In a cab signalingsystem, a track system including means along the railway for transmitting electrical influences and means for energizing it, a devicein the cab for indicating danger whensa'id first mentioned means is deenergized, and means for maintaining said device at the danger indication.

25. A cab signaling system, including means along the right of way for transmitting a pre-determined character of electrical influences, and means for energizing same, a device in a cab adapted tobe controlled by said influences and. to indicate danger when said influences cease and means for 'malntaining said danger indication irrespective of the return of said influences.

26. In a cab signaling system, the track divided into blocks, track circuits for said electrical influences, means running throughout only a portion ofeach of said blocks and adapted to emit electrical influences, means for generating said electrical'influences, said electrical influences being controlled by said track circuits, a cab device having a receiving device adapted to be controlled by. the electrical influences from said first mentioned means, and having a separate receiving device adapted to be controlled by the electrical influences from said second mentioned means, for the purpose described.

27. Ina cab signaling system, the track divided into blocks, track circuits for said blocks, means running throughout the length of said blocks and adapted to emit electrical influences, means for generating said electrical influences, means running throughout only a portion of each of said blocks and adapted to emit electrical influences and connected to separate means for generating said electrical influences, said electrical influences being controlled by said tracks circuits, a cab device having a plurality of receiving devices adapted to be influenced by said electrical influences for the purpose described.

Signed at Chicago, this 28th day of O0- tober, 1910.

THEO. H; MILLINGTON. Witnesses: I

EUGENE A. RUMMLER, EDWIN PHELPS. 

